The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 404 Chicken, I'm going to be a father! Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl? (6k)

Seeing Shen Hanyi's unusual behavior, Zhou Qing was about to make a teasing remark when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and his expression changed abruptly.

How could a powerful expert at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm, who has long since abstained from grains, do something that only mortals would do?
Moreover, with a younger brother who has grasped that kind of meaning, he should already be immune to anything that makes him feel nauseous.

How could he lose his composure in front of a "senior"?
"Could it be."

Zhou Qing's heart skipped a beat, but then she felt that she shouldn't have done it.

The higher one's cultivation level, the more difficult it is to conceive offspring.

Every time a cultivator breaks through a major realm, their physical body undergoes a transformation, and their life essence also leaps forward.

A powerful being at the Spirit Severing Realm has long since transcended the mortal body; their flesh and blood contain laws, and their spiritual power is their origin. With every move they make, they can draw upon the power of heaven and earth.

How could such an existence easily leave behind its bloodline?
With an extraordinary physical body, energy manifested in the form of the body, and secret techniques added to the body, the level of life has already changed.

What's that saying again? Only the strong are worthy to be my children.

There are countless examples of powerful Daoist couples who have only one offspring in a hundred or even a thousand years.

That is why, once their offspring perish, it will inevitably provoke boundless wrath.

Because that might be their only bloodline, the only remaining hope for inheritance after so many years.

If it is severed, it is almost impossible to conceive again.

Therefore, those powerful individuals often spare no effort to exterminate their enemies, even going so far as to wipe out their entire families and massacre their entire clan.

—To sever my lineage is to cut off my path.

This feud must be fought to the death!
The problem was that Shen Hanyi was already in the late stage of the Spirit Severing Realm at that time, and he was about to step into the Spirit Severing Realm as well.

A true alliance of titans.

To be honest, he wasn't that confident in himself that he could have gotten the kill on the first try?

Furthermore, if you calculate carefully, nearly 160 years have passed since that incident occurred.

Even if she were pregnant with Nezha, she would have to go through several cycles of childbirth by now.

Surely you wouldn't actually try to emulate Li Niang, would you?
"and many more……"

But what if?
A proud young woman from a fifth-level cultivation country, with a cultivation level at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm and the identity of a fourth-level array master, has never found a Daoist partner, yet suddenly becomes pregnant...

If this news gets out, who would believe it?
Putting everything else aside, the younger generation of the eight great families alone could provide enough gossip for centuries.

Especially the Yan family—this was a resounding slap in the face, a hard blow to their cheeks!
"Yan Sen is dead, and you're pregnant?"

What do you mean?
Are you deliberately trying to slap the Yan family in the face?

Yan Sen had been pursuing Shen Hanyi for many years, and the two families had almost become husband and wife.

His body is barely cold, and the place where he fell has not yet been found, yet Shen Hanyi is... pregnant?

If this gets out, the Yan family will be furious!
Not to mention the intricate situation within the Shen family—if that's the case, how should she handle it?

Faced with this situation, could she really have used some secret method to delay her pregnancy, just like Li Niang?

At this moment, Zhou Qing's gaze unconsciously fell on Shen Hanyi.

Although her figure was only a blurry outline, there did seem to be an unnatural bulge beneath her wide robes.

This discovery made his heart beat even faster, and an indescribable thrill surged in his chest.

It was an emotion that even he himself couldn't quite explain—three parts trepidation, seven parts anticipation, and a hint of faint joy.

Since being transported to this dog-eat-dog world, he has been like a piece of duckweed, drifting in the wind and snow.

I've slept in freezing cold, been chased and bitten by stray dogs for a steamed bun, and endured beatings from street thugs.

It wasn't until he met his master, Mo Xingjian, who brought him back to the Taiqing Sect, that he experienced the warmth of "home" for the first time.

But now.
A tiny life carrying his blood is being conceived, which may become his deepest bond in this world.

Thinking of this, Zhou Qing's eyes had already become hot without her realizing it.

Excitement, trepidation, and anticipation intertwined, making it almost impossible for him, who was usually calm in the face of adversity, to control his expression.

Because he may truly no longer be alone.

At this moment, Zhou Qing stared intently at Shen Hanyi.

Shen Hanyi seemed to notice the overly focused gaze, gently wiping away a non-existent trace from the corner of her lips, a hint of unease flashing across her face.

"I apologize for the embarrassing situation, senior. I've recently encountered some problems in my cultivation, and my qi and blood are flowing in reverse."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Qing suddenly moved with lightning speed and grabbed her wrist.

The cold touch sent a shiver through Shen Hanyi, who instinctively tried to pull her arm away.

In that split second, Zhou Qing's spiritual power had already entered her body through her meridians like a wisp of silk.

That wisp of spiritual energy flowed gently yet irresistibly, and when it touched the area below the dantian—

"Boom!"

A faint yet clear pulse of life resounded like thunder in Zhou Qing's mind.

He released his grip as if struck by lightning, his pupils contracting violently.

Shock, elation, disbelief—a mix of emotions swirled in his eyes.

That faint yet tenacious breath of life, like a spark, instantly ignited his heart, which had been dormant for many years.

"It really exists," he muttered to himself, his mind completely blank.

Shen Hanyi took several steps back, her face slightly pale: "Senior."

"When did this happen?" Zhou Qing couldn't help but ask in order to be even more certain that the child was indeed his.

It wasn't that he was overthinking things; after all, anything could have happened in the past hundred years.

Shen Hanyi remained silent for a long time before finally saying softly, "I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

Before she finished speaking, her figure vanished abruptly, and Zhou Qing was simultaneously expelled from her forbidden zone.

Inside the cave, Zhou Qing suddenly opened his eyes, completely unaware that the token had slipped from his palm.

He paced back and forth in the narrow cave, his steps as unsteady as a drunkard's.

Suddenly, he picked up the old hen that was digging in the dirt, and dirt fell down in a flurry.

"A hen!" He held up the old hen and spun it around, startling the feathers into a flurry. "I might be going to be a father!"

The old hen's beady eyes widened instantly.

"Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?" Zhou Qing hugged the chicken to his arms, his face full of excitement. "Junior Sister Lu asked me before which one I liked, and I said I liked them both."

His voice suddenly choked up, "But I never thought this day would come so soon."

This time, the old hen nestled quietly in his arms, listening to Zhou Qing's incoherent ramblings: "I have family now, I'm not alone anymore..."

"To hell with the Three Flowers, to hell with the desolate restrictions, let's head to the Shen family right now!"

Zhou Qing could no longer contain his excitement and immediately picked up the old hen and rushed out of the ground.

He waved his hand and summoned a flying boat. A streak of light streaked across the sky and headed straight for the tail end of Nanhuang Prefecture.

At almost the same moment, Wu Sha also arrived at the edge of the desolate forbidden area.

He wore a hideous mask and moved furtively through the crowd, his eyes constantly searching for suspicious faces.
……

The fifth tail of Nanhuang Prefecture.

This vast region is comparable in size to five prefectures of the Holy Martial Dynasty. In addition to the countless cities under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Fortune Dynasty, it is also scattered with countless sects and forces.

The dominant family in this area is the Shen family, which ranks fifth among the eight great families.

Here, anyone with the surname Shen, even if they have no blood relation to the Shen family, will receive special treatment when traveling.

The Shen family's influence permeated every street and every market town; even imperial officials had to give them some face.

Meanwhile, in a secluded room of a mountain villa in a certain city, Shen Hanyi slowly opened her eyes.

She gently stroked her abdomen with a complicated expression, a hint of inner turmoil flashing in her eyes.

After a long silence, she stood up and removed the four-colored restrictions around her. The mysterious array patterns turned into streams of light and disappeared into her storage bag.

Pushing open the door to the secret room, she gazed at the setting sun on the horizon and sighed softly.

With a flash, he appeared in front of another door.

Just as he was about to knock on the door, she, who was wearing a veil, suddenly frowned slightly, and with a gentle push of her slender hand, the door opened silently.

This is a warm and elegant boudoir, with light purple gauze curtains hanging down and a pot of blooming orchids placed by the window.

Several cute plush toys were placed on the bedside table, exuding a girlish atmosphere.

But at this moment, on the table that comes into view, lies a mirror stone.

Shen Hanyi stepped forward slowly and tapped lightly with her jade-like fingers.

The moment the spiritual energy was injected, Lu Yaoyao's phantom appeared.

Her silver hair had long lost its former luster, and her face looked so haggard that it was heartbreaking.

In the image of "Sister Shen," Lu Yaoyao managed a weak smile, saying, "Thank you for taking care of me for over a hundred years."

"Thanks to you, Yao Yao has witnessed a splendor she never imagined and tasted all the delicacies of the world. Under your guidance, I have even broken through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm."

Her voice suddenly choked up: "But my heart just can't calm down."

“You said that the void is vast and boundless, and ordinary people who fall into it have little hope of survival. But I believe that my senior brother is still alive.”

"There are some reasons I can't say, but I'm going to find him, especially in those areas where the Demon Emperor is entrenched. I think he has the best chance of escaping there."

Then, Lu Yaoyao took a deep breath and said, "I will remember your kindness and repay you if I have the chance. I hope we will meet again someday."

The image gradually faded away, and Shen Hanyi held the image stone, remaining silent for a long time.

Immediately afterwards, she closed her eyes and concentrated, as if sensing something.

A moment later, she opened her eyes, raised her jade-like hand, and drew a perfect arc in the void.

Space was easily torn apart like silk, revealing deep cracks.

Without hesitation, she stepped inside, and her figure vanished in an instant.

……

Almost simultaneously, on a bustling street, a woman with snow-white hair walked slowly.

She wore a peculiar, strange mask and carried a chilling longsword on her back.

Each step seemed to carry a certain rhythm, causing pedestrians around to involuntarily make way.

"Is that the Ice Fairy from the Shen family?"

"It should be right. The kind of cultivation technique she practices is something that no one else can imitate."

"And look, isn't that the dung beetle from the Shen family behind her? It's acting suspiciously, and no one dares to get close."

"I heard that Fairy Shen has already reached the Great Perfection of the Spirit Severing Realm. It's truly enviable."

……

Lu Yaoyao ignored these comments.

She took out the three-colored jade slip from her bosom—it was something her father had personally crafted for her years ago.

Her fingertips lightly traced the familiar patterns on the jade slip, and she once again sent the message she had repeated countless times:

"Senior Brother Zhou, where are you? Yao Yao is here to find you!"

The jade slip flickered slightly before falling silent. She had repeated this call countless times over the past century, yet never received a response.

A hint of sadness flashed in his eyes beneath the mask, but it quickly returned to its resolute state.

Since her accidental arrival in this era, this is the longest she has ever been separated from her father.

But she always believed that the person who could always create miracles must still be alive.

After waiting for a while without any results, she put away the jade slip, turned around and turned into a quiet alley.

As expected, familiar footsteps soon came from behind.

"Lu Meizi!" Shen Yunzhou, sporting his signature blond hair, peeked out from the alleyway with a grin. "Where are you going?"

Lu Yaoyao stopped in her tracks, her voice cold as frost: "Brother Shen, please don't follow me. Let me leave quietly on my own."

Shen Yunzhou immediately dropped his playful smile and said seriously, "I also believe that Brother Zhou will be alright. But it's too dangerous for you to be alone."

"Since I've been free lately, why don't we travel together and look for Brother Zhou?"

"This is between my senior brother and me," Lu Yaoyao gently shook her head. "I won't trouble you."

"Trouble me? You're being too polite!" Shen Yunzhou said hastily. "Back when Brother Zhou broke through to the Spirit Severing Realm, we protected him together!"

He counted on his fingers: "Sixty years ago, when I broke through to the Spirit Severing stage, my older sister was using the Nine Revolutions Spirit Condensation Array, a four-color restriction that Brother Zhou had asked her to help create, and that's how she barely made it through."

"If it weren't for that, I'm afraid I would have already died and disappeared."

"Not to mention the transformation medicine from Kunpeng Palace, and that time with the teleportation array in Tianlan City. If it weren't for Brother Zhou, my older sister might have been the one falling into the endless void."

"We siblings owe him so much," Shen Yunzhou clenched his fists, making a cracking sound. "It's more than just a life."

Lu Yaoyao was silent for a moment, her eyes flickering slightly beneath the mask: "I understand. But..."

She hesitated.

Over the years, the Shen siblings have treated her like family, allowing her to live here in peace.

After ruling out Fairy Xuanyou and Ninth Princess Xuanyuan Muqian, she was almost certain that Shen Hanyi was very likely the mother she had been searching for.

If that's the case, once my father escapes, he will surely come here to reunite with them.

At that time, I might gradually develop feelings for Sister Shen, and who knows, one day something embarrassing might happen.

However, just a few years ago, when Sister Shen was teaching her ice-type supernatural powers, she suddenly covered her mouth and gagged.

She didn't pay much attention to it at the time, taking it as just a normal discomfort.

After all, even though cultivators have abstained from grains, it is common for them to occasionally satisfy their appetites.

Just like herself, she still has a deep love for desserts.

One time is nothing, but two or three times, or even a regular monthly occurrence, is bound to raise suspicion.

Having lived for over a hundred years, she was no longer an innocent young girl. She knew some things very well and cared about them deeply.

"Sister Shen, I've got it!" The thought had barely crossed her mind when she couldn't believe it.

For the next few years, she pretended to observe casually until she was completely certain.

Furthermore, according to some ancient texts, the process of conceiving offspring in the Spirit Severing Realm is inherently lengthy, much like those powerful pure-blooded demonic beasts, whose gestation period can easily reach a thousand years.

However, once born, their offspring often directly possess the cultivation level of the Nascent Soul stage or even the Spirit Severing stage.

Sister Shen's situation is exactly like this, which is why it is not noticeable on her face.

At that moment, her heart sank to the bottom.

The villa where they have lived all these years was secretly purchased by Sister Shen to avoid the conflicts within the Shen family.

Therefore, she lived here peacefully and rarely went out, hoping that her father would come looking for her one day.

To avoid revealing this place, Sister Shen always came and went in a hurry, only occasionally taking the time to guide her in her cultivation.

Therefore, she has no right to interfere in her private life.

Now that her father's fate is unknown, Sister Shen has suddenly become pregnant, and the answer is self-evident.

It turns out that everything was just wishful thinking on my part.

Since Sister Shen is not my mother, my father will not come here after he escapes.

Staying here is nothing but futile waiting.

So, she decided to go to Jiyuan Temple first to look for him, where her father's godson was and a group of female bodhisattvas lived.

If she still couldn't find it, she would go to the dangerous places where the demon kings resided.

Perhaps her father would appear there, thus perfectly matching the timeline in her memory and recreating the scene of being chased by demons back then.

"Haven't you Shen family always wanted to harm Sister Shen?" Lu Yaoyao said coldly. "If you come with me, they will mistake me for Sister Shen, which will only bring me death!"

Shen Yunzhou scratched his head: "Then why don't you just take off your mask?"

"This was given to me by Senior Brother Zhou, so I'm going to wear it!" Lu Yaoyao insisted. "Anyway, don't follow me."

Shen Yunzhou was about to persuade her again when her expression suddenly changed, and she timidly pointed behind her.

As soon as Lu Yaoyao turned around, she saw Shen Hanyi gracefully walking out of the spatial rift.

She subconsciously bit her lower lip lightly.

"Why have you suddenly become so distant from me these past few years?" Han Yi's cool voice carried a hint of inquiry.

Lu Yaoyao's eyelashes trembled slightly beneath her mask, and she quickly said, "No, it's nothing. I just miss my senior brother."

Her voice unconsciously lowered, carrying an undisguised sense of loneliness.

Shen Hanyi looked at the girl with her head down and felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

“I also believe he is still alive. But the void is vast. If you leave rashly, where will he find you after he escapes?”

"But--"

"No buts." Shen Hanyi's tone remained cold. "Now, go home."

Lu Yaoyao stubbornly shook her head, her eyes red-rimmed.

Where does she still have a home?
The place you finally found solace in turned out to be someone else's home.

I have no idea which prodigy from Nanhuang Prefecture is carrying your child.

At this moment, all she wanted was to find the person who could truly become her mother.

Perhaps the old man was seriously injured when he escaped, and was rescued by the gentle and kind Fourth Sister.

During his recovery period, the two spent every day together and gradually developed feelings for each other, which eventually led to her pregnancy.
"Once you break through to the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage and have the power to protect yourself, I will not stop you."

Seeing Lu Yaoyao's resistance, Shen Hanyi finally gave in.

She paused, her voice slightly hoarse: "If it weren't for him, I would have been the one who fell into the void 150 years ago. I owe him two lives."

"Two lives?" Lu Yaoyao asked in confusion.

Standing at the alley entrance, Shen Yunzhou seemed to have thought of something, and immediately lowered his head, pretending that he hadn't heard anything.

That time, I was out keeping watch.

Shen Hanyi didn't explain anything, but continued, "Now that you have no relatives or friends in this Heavenly Fortune Holy Dynasty, if something unexpected happens to you, how can I face him?"

Lu Yaoyao lowered her head and remained silent.

“I’m searching with all my might,” Shen Hanyi suddenly asked, “What if we find him but not you?”

Lu Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and a look of struggle appeared in her eyes.

"What are you still standing there for?" The next moment, Shen Hanyi suddenly turned to Shen Yunzhou.

His tone suddenly turned stern, "Aren't your cronies scattered all over the place? Why don't you go and find out more!"

Shen Yunzhou shuddered and quickly replied, "Don't worry, sister, I've already cast that net. Brother Zhou will definitely return safely!"

Shen Hanyi's expression softened slightly. She reached out and gently grasped Lu Yaoyao's wrist, her voice becoming gentler: "Let's go home, okay?"

Lu Yaoyao slowly raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears beneath the mask, and finally let out a soft "Mmm".

Beneath the veil, Shen Hanyi's tightly clenched lips finally relaxed.

She glanced at Shen Yunzhou indifferently, and the latter immediately understood, turning around and leaving in a hurry.

……

Seven days later!
A flying boat cuts through the clouds and mist. An old hen stands on the deck, her tongue lolling out and drool flying as the wind blows.

He doesn't seem very bright at all.

Zhou Qing had been resting with his eyes closed when suddenly a thought struck him, and he abruptly opened his eyes.

He quickly took out the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace token, and a blue light suddenly lit up on the back.

Without saying a word, he immediately steered the flying boat down and landed in a desolate mountain.

He hurriedly set up a makeshift cave and stuffed spirit stones into it to power up the token.

When her mind was drawn into the Divine Ruins Heavenly Palace, Shen Hanyi had already begun the simulation within the desolate forbidden area.

"The Supreme Tribulation is so dangerous, do you really want to use the Three Flowers Tribulation? You don't think about the child at all."

Zhou Qing stared at the blue light screen and couldn't help but mutter curses.

But they didn't go in immediately; instead, they waited quietly.

These past few days, he has been unable to calm down, his mind filled with thoughts of Shen Hanyi and the child.

He desperately wanted to confront her, but knowing her personality, she would never admit it.

If she is truly his child, and is now pregnant, why doesn't she, with her aloofness, transform into a spirit?

So these past few days, he's been waiting for Shen Hanyi to come online.

Don't forget, back in the days of the Void, the [Random Post] section actually spawned two new posts.

One of them is the "Mind Reading Note," which can reveal the target's thoughts for three days.

The other one is the "You're the one who can do it" post, which encourages others to take risks and promises half the profits if they succeed.

Therefore, he wanted to use the Mind Reading Manual on Shen Hanyi this time. He wouldn't feel it was a waste even if it took three days, let alone three days.

He desperately wants to know if the child is really his.
After waiting for half an incense stick's time, a ray of blue light finally leaped out from the screen and condensed into a blue sphere of light.

"What a coincidence!" Zhou Qing said first.

"Senior." Shen Hanyi's voice remained cold and distant.

Although the other party was indeed somewhat offensive last time, she was the one who disappointed us first and also lied.

Zhou Qingqiang calmly replied, "Didn't you say last time that you encountered some dangerous places in the restricted area that were difficult to pass through? Perhaps the Three-Flower Mummy is hiding in there."

"Let me take a look; perhaps I can be of some help."

Shen Hanyi hesitated for a moment, but this time she did not refuse: "Then I will trouble you, senior."

Immediately afterwards, two streaks of light, one red and one blue, disappeared into the scene.

As soon as their figures coalesced, Zhou Qing immediately locked onto Shen Hanyi and secretly activated the [Mind Reading Manual].

His heart was pounding, but he forced himself to remain calm—he had been too hasty last time, and he couldn't be too hasty this time, lest he offend the other person.

Looking around, the desolate area was still bustling with people.

Zhou Qing asked casually, "It's been a long time since we sang love songs together. How have you always been able to tell which ship has the key to pass through customs every time you come in all these years?"

(End of this chapter)